Zumaia in 30 seconds
About 10,000 inhabitants (10,251 in 2024, INE) over 11.3 km², where the Urola and the Narrondo meet, 31 km from San Sebastián, between Getaria to the east and Deba to the west. The town was founded in 1347 by a charter from Alfonso XI of Castile. Zumaia is part of the Basque Coast Geopark along with Deba and Mutriku: a member of the European and Global Geoparks Networks since 2010, it is now a UNESCO Global Geopark. Visitor centres in all three towns run geology outings on foot or by boat.
What to see
The Itzurun flysch
THE place to see. Cliffs of marine sedimentary layers recording continuous deposition over a very long period, from the Cretaceous to the Eocene. The Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary (the extinction 66 million years ago that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs) can be seen from Itzurun beach. In 2022, the Zumaia Cretaceous–Paleogene stratigraphic section was chosen by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as one of 100 world geological heritage sites.
Itzurun beach
A beach at the foot of the flysch cliffs.
San Telmo hermitage
A small chapel on the coast, above Itzurun beach, dedicated to St Telmo, patron saint of sailors; his feast is celebrated in fishermen’s blue work clothes. In 2013, scenes from the film Ocho apellidos vascos (Spanish Affair) were shot here.
Santiago beach
Zumaia’s other beach, close to the Zuloaga museum.
The old quarter
It centres on the church of San Pedro, described by Turismo Euskadi as one of the finest Gothic buildings in Euskadi (the Basque Autonomous Community); its construction followed the founding of the town (1347) and its tower dates from the 15th century. Inside is a remarkable altarpiece by a Basque sculptor. The Julio Beobide Museum occupies the sculptor’s birthplace.
Ignacio Zuloaga Museum
Housed in the home and studio of the painter Ignacio Zuloaga (1870–1945), near Santiago beach, on the site of a former hospice for pilgrims on the Way of St James. Built from 1912 in the neo-Basque style by the architect Pedro Guimón, the house opened in 1914; the museum and chapel were inaugurated at Christmas 1921. Alongside works by Zuloaga, you can see paintings by El Greco and Goya, whom he admired.
Specialities
- Octopus — octopus fishing is part of the local culture (regulations now limit the catch to one octopus over 750 g per day), along with a tradition of drying it, which can make it lose up to 80% of its weight.
Fiestas
- San Telmo, with fishermen’s traditional blue outfits.
- San Pedro, the town’s patron saint fiestas, with fireworks and concerts; regattas and pelota matches also punctuate the year.
Getting there
- By train: Euskotren
1-day itinerary
- 10:00: the flysch and Itzurun beach
- 12:00: San Telmo hermitage
- 15:00: church of San Pedro and the old quarter
- 17:00: Zuloaga museum
Famous people linked to Zumaia
- Ignacio Zuloaga (1870–1945) — painter, born in Eibar and died in Madrid, one of the great Spanish painters of the 20th century; his house in Zumaia is now a museum.
- Julio Beobide (1891–1969) — sculptor of religious images (imaginero), born and died in Zumaia, and a close friend of Zuloaga, who encouraged him in his career.
- Elena Irureta (born 1955 in Zumaia) — actress, seen in the series El comisario and Goenkale, who played Bittori in the series Patria (HBO).
My favourite photo
The flysch cliffs at sunset, from near the San Telmo hermitage.
Sources
- Turismo Euskadi (Basque Government) — Zumaia (in Spanish)
- Basque Coast Geopark
- Wikipedia: Zumaya (es) (INE 2024 population), Zumaia (en), Ignacio Zuloaga (es)
- Wikipedia (es): Elena Irureta
Ongi etorri Zumaiara — Welcome to Zumaia.